Woman wins civil rape case against Conor McGregor

A woman who accused Conor McGregor of raping her has won her claim for damages in a civil case.

A jury found the Irish mixed martial arts fighter assaulted Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

He was ordered to pay her damages of more than 248,000 euros (£206,000).

Speaking outside court on Friday, Ms Hand said her story was “a reminder that no matter how scared you are to speak out, you still have a voice”.

In a post on X on Friday night, McGregor said he would appeal the ruling and he thanked “all my support around the world”.

“The judge’s directive and the modest award given were for assault, not for serious or exemplary damages,” he said.

“Now I’m with my family and focused on my future.”

The jury at the High Court in Dublin deliberated for a day before returning a verdict that McGregor had assaulted Ms Hand.

She also brought proceedings against another man, James Lawrence, 35, of Rafter’s Road, Drimnagh in Dublin.

She alleged that he assaulted her by having sex with her without her consent at the Beacon Hotel.

The jury found that he did not assault her.

Ms Hand told reporters she was “overwhelmed and touched” by the support she received.

She added: “I want to show off [my daughter] Freya and every other young girl you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who it is, and justice will be served.”

Both men denied the 35-year-old hairstylist’s allegations and said they had private consensual sex with Ms Hand at the hotel nearly six years ago.

After eight days of evidence and three days of hearing closing statements and comments from the judge, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning with its verdict.

McGregor shook his head after the jury read that Ms. Hand had won her case against him.

He was accompanied by partner Dee Devlin, his parents, sister and brother-in-law.

He sat in the back row of the yard, between his wife and mother Margaret.

Ms Hand cried and was hugged and kissed by her partner and supporters.

The jury previously heard that on the day of the attack, Ms Hand and colleague Danielle Kealy went to the hotel penthouse with McGregor and Mr Lawrence after their work Christmas party .

They gave evidence that they partied all night from December 8 to the morning of December 9 and drank heavily and used cocaine.

Mrs Hand, a mother of one, told the court how McGregor pinned her to the bed before assaulting her.

She had multiple bruises and scratches on her body, including on her hands and wrists.

There was a bloody scratch on her chest and pain in her neck after she said she was placed in a “chokehold” by McGregor.

He denied causing the bruises, saying it could have happened after she “swan dived” into the bathtub in her hotel room.

Ms Hand was taken by ambulance to Rotunda Hospital in Dublin the following day, where she was admitted to the sexual assault unit.

A paramedic who examined Ms Hand told the court she had not seen “anyone so bruised” for a long time.

The jury heard Ms Hand had to quit her job as a hairdresser and was unable to work because of her mental health, that her relationship with her partner ended a few months after the incident, that she had to move out outside of life. house in Drimnagh and her mortgage is now in arrears.

She also said she had to stop seeing a counselor because she could no longer afford the sessions.

The court heard that she spent more than 4,000 euros (£3,326) on GP fees, medication and psychotherapy.